A trip for Shaz and I again to the RAH seeking musical entertainment.
This is a classical ‘pops’ show of many well known pieces from the classical and opera worlds.
We had better tickets this time than for the Proms which for the most part made a difference. However at times the sound seemed a little off; the choir did not seem quite clear or powerful enough at times and the orchestral sound seemed a little muted at times.
The audience were supplied with Union Jack flags to wave during ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ but also managed to do so during the ‘1812’ maybe not knowing it does not celebrate a British victory! I found the patriotism come jingoism too much really during these songs. Why do the British need this stuff? However, I can appreciate the beauty and sentiment of ‘Jerusalem‘, which also received a warm welcome from the audience.
The content of the night was:
GRIEGMorning and In the hall of the mountain king ROSSINILargo al factotum from The Barber of Seville JENKINSBenedictus from The Armed Man BIZETDuet from The Pearl Fishers HOLSTJupiter from The Planets SUPPÉLight Cavalry Overture TCHAIKOVSKYWaltz of the Flowers SOUSALiberty Bell March VERDILa donna è mobile HANDELZadok the Priest PARRYJerusalem SIBELIUSFinlandia PACHELBELCanon LANDOF HOPEANDGLORY RULE, BRITANNIA! NESSUNDORMA HORNPIPE
1812 OVERTURE With THUNDERINGCANNONSANDINDOORFIREWORKS
So much good stuff with the addition of dancing and the general spectacular add ons of balloons and light show. The music was good but maybe there was a little too much ‘cheese’.
So Ireland beat the All Blacks and we were in Duffy’s to witness the match. Joe wore his All Blacks shirt with pride and Shaz and I were also on the side of the men in black. Anthony and the lads were ecstatic with the deserved victory.
A fun trip to west London with more due in the future.
Ireland 16-9 New Zealand: Hosts hold nerve to earn first home win over All Blacks
By Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium
Irish joy was unconfined after the final whistle at the Aviva Stadium
Autumn internationals: Ireland v New Zealand
Ireland: (9) 16
Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3
New Zealand: (6) 9
Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett
Ireland have beaten New Zealand on home soil for the first time with a frenzied 16-9 win at the Aviva Stadium.
Jacob Stockdale’s superb chip-and-gather try decided an absorbing contest between the top two sides in the world.
Johnny Sexton advanced his claims for the world player of the year award with the rest of Ireland’s points.
The Grand Slam champions added to their historic first win over the All Blacks in 2016 as they sent out a warning before next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Stockdale’s try pushed his side into a 10-point lead in the 49th minute and they produced a heroic defensive display, led by man-of-the-match Peter O’Mahony, to repel the inevitable New Zealand fightback as ‘The Fields of Athenry’ rang through the Dublin night.
A beautiful autumnal morning-so English or at least temperate.
The crunch of fallen leaves under foot and the noises of children playing football and others exercising. Cold but fresh and with the added beauty of the Thames and Barnes common.
So last week I was happy to support New Zealand when they played England, and as it happens, won in a tight game that really England should have won.
This week the All Blacks play Ireland. Assessment of the merits of each time probably give Ireland the edge in the contest.
But emotionally who do I want to win. With me drifting more to my father’s origins maybe it is less easy to support the ABs this weekend.
At the same time I still evoke the ‘I’m too old to invest too much emotion in these things’ mantra.
Ireland can repeat Chicago win over New Zealand, says Rory Best
• Joe Schmidt’s side beat All Blacks in the US in 2016 • Captain Best says injuries will not have big impact
Liam Napier
Ireland players celebrate the win over New Zealand in Chicago. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images
Rory Best is confident Ireland can repeat their history-making efforts in Chicago by claiming a maiden win over New Zealand on home soil despite suffering more late injury dramas.
Already without the Lions flanker Sean O’Brien, who broke his arm against Argentina last week, Ireland suffered another major setback on the eve of the match with the loose forward Dan Leavy ruled out. Leavy’s absence adds to a growing injury list which includes O’Brien, the influential half-back Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw.
Brexit: ‘No question’ of further negotiations if Theresa May’s deal rejected, says Merkel
Merkel welcomes deal but hints this is last chance
There is “no question” of further Brexit negotiations if the deal struck by Theresa May is rejected, Angela Merkel has said.
Speaking in Berlin, the German chancellor welcomed the deal but warned a chaotic exit was still possible as a “worst case” scenario.
“We have a document on the table that Britain and the EU 27 have agreed to, so for me there is no question at the moment whether we negotiate further,” the Chancellor said.
A proposed option proposed is a further renegotiation though how does that have legs? The draft has come from two plus years of negotiation. Is the EU willing to do restart? There is a time limit here as other steps have to fall in place. Another example of the lack of reality.
Plus we have the promotion that ‘no deal’ is all fine. Nothing really to fear. Fear promoted by the ‘establishment’. That coming from Charles Moore! The sniff of desperation from Brexiteers. No one really knows of course as it is the future that one is analysing but the majority of people as concerned about the impact of no deal because the sudden change in rules and agreements will be disruptive-seriously. Brexiteers told us it would all be so easy to reach a deal, achieve what we wanted, all so quickly. That was a pack of lies. Now they promote the idea that a ‘no-deal’ transition will be easy. On the Telegraph podcast one leading ERG member confidently said that the disruption would last only a few months and then all would be fine. I am more inclined to think this is more lies.
Just a few notes and links to record the goings on with the current political upheaval. Apparently the most politically momentous day since WW2.
It seems so unreal and less dramatic than that as it has all been coming for so long and the resulting issues and troubles are as one predicted two years ago or more after the referendum result and the reality of what could be offered and negotiated. The draft agreement that the government has reached does not satisfy anyone.
It is possibly the best compromise for a bad idea that could be reached though it is easy to be critical of the whole negotiating method since the onset. Bluster and arrogance followed by realisation and retreat.
So the deal on offer does not satisfy the mad Brexiteers as the links to the EU remain and its influence continues-‘UK being as rule taker and not a rule maker’- so much for taking back control and sovereignty. But compromise is needed in the eyes of most to avoid the ‘hard’/ ‘cliff edge’ Brexit that anyone with any sense sees as leading to chaos and pain in the short to medium term.
Of course the Brexit brigade claim the changes will not be so bad and all will be good in the end. The ‘end’ being possibly 50 years time according to William R-M one of the evangelist exiters who is most certainly ‘all right Jack’ and is in a position to take the shit when it hits the country’s fan.
So much of this is predictable and continues to be impossible to reach a state that satisfies a majority. The arch Brexiters will never be satisfied as they still live in Brexit dream and with no acknowledgement of the potential downsides of the change. They continue to harangue from the sidelines, criticising the negotiation plans and outcomes yet offering nothing as an alternative. When they are in charge- such as Raab and David Davies they resign when they have failed to conjure something that fits their dream and bitterly complain it is someone else’s fault, ie, Theresa May. I note R-M lists the potential Tory party leaders as those Brexiters who have been involved as ministers and resigned- because it all became too difficult to square their dreams and the reality. That does not augur well for their leadership of the future.
Now R-Mogg and co are looking to unseat May through a party no confidence bid. To what end? Is it to take he decision out of Parliament’s hands where they have no majority for a ‘no deal’ Brexit and so try to force a crashing out by default and achieve what they have always wanted? A ‘sovereign ‘ in name country but which will be bossed around by more powerful nations or pressured by any state negotiating because of the UK’s position of weakness through desperation. But they will try to follow through with their neoliberal small state agenda. No regulations, free business oppression of all while claiming they are doing the poor a favour. Nauseating.
A comical look at the state of affairs and how even now cannot admit the ridiculous and impossible demands of the original Brexit campaign which was also evidenced during May’s press conference yesterday afternoon after the prolonged statement to Parliament.
It’s all intrigue and acrimony from the right wing Brexit press without insight into their own failings:
May is continuing to fight her corner– doggedly I suppose but with what expectation.
The possible routes from this point remain multiple. Who knows? Crashing or stopping Brexit through another vote? More change ahead but a wounded May to continue for now I expect but in the end no parliamentary approval of the deal.
So the real reason for being in Covent Garden was to meet in the Porterhouse and go for a meal across the road. Pub was heaving. All arrived eventually.